Groundwater meeting is Wednesday

Public invited to attend Bonanza Valley Groundwater Management Area meeting in Belgrade Sept. 24

The public is invited to attend a project advisory team meeting for the Bonanza Valley Groundwater Management Area, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to noon, at the VFW Soboe Leverson Post in Belgrade.
The purpose of the project advisory team is to assist the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in developing a local plan for sustainable use of groundwater. Statewide there has been a 35 percent increase in groundwater use over the past 25 years.  The Bonanza Valley area has seen a 175 percent increase during the same period.  The area’s boundary extends from just south of Alexandria to the area around Paynesville and includes the cities of Paynesville, Brooten, Belgrade, Westport, Glenwood and Villard.

Individuals do not need to be on the project advisory team to attend the meeting.  The meetings are open for stakeholders to observe, and time is available at the end of the formal meeting to provide comments and ideas.

The Bonanza Valley Groundwater Management Area is one of three such areas around the state, established by the DNR to help communities and individuals in these areas better understand groundwater resources and plan for future development.

Questions about the Bonanza Valley project can be directed to Mark Hauck, DNR project manager, at 320-223-7846 or mark.hauck@state.mn.us.  More information is also available on the DNR website, www.mndnr.gov/groundwater.